It sounds like Mike is struggling with using the correct parts of speech in his writing. This can happen when writers try to incorporate advanced vocabulary without fully understanding how those words function in a sentence. Here are a few tips that might help Mike improve his essay and his overall writing skills:
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Word Function: Encourage Mike to take the time to look up the definitions of the words he wants to use and understand their parts of speech (noun, verb, adjective, adverb, etc.). This can help him use them correctly in context.
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Sentence Structure: Remind him that the structure of a sentence can change depending on the part of speech. For example, adding an adjective to a noun requires different placement and agreement than using a verb.
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Contextual Practice: Suggest that he read examples of well-written essays or articles to see how more sophisticated vocabulary is integrated correctly. This can help him develop an intuition for using words in their proper context.
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Synonyms and Antonyms: Use a thesaurus to find synonyms but encourage caution; it's crucial to ensure that the replacement words fit grammatically and contextually. Some words may have similar meaning but belong to different parts of speech.
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Peer Review: Engaging in peer review can provide valuable feedback. Mike could swap essays with a classmate to find and correct part of speech errors together.
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Revision: After making edits, Mike should read his essay aloud. This practice can help identify awkward phrasing or misuse of vocabulary that he might not catch while reading silently.
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Consult Resources: It might be helpful for Mike to consult grammar resources, online tools, or writing centers at school for additional support.
By focusing on these areas, Mike can enhance his writing skills, use vocabulary more effectively, and ultimately improve the quality of his essays.